2005-2007 Academic Catalog

Liberal Studies

Interdisciplinary Program Director:

Interdisciplinary Program Advisor: Jackie Hampton

The Liberal Studies major is a self-designed major that integrates an interdisciplinary program of study in the liberal arts with a culminating experiential learning requirement. The major serves students whose interests extend beyond the scope of a single department or division. The capstone experiential learning requirement, which is typically an internship or individual project, provides students an opportunity to integrate their academic learning with practical experience-based opportunities.

Assessment

Liberal Studies conducts regular assessment of student learning. The primary method of assessment requires students to compile a portfolio including: statement of intent, junior reflection paper, student designed experience reflection, writing samples, critical thinking samples, and internship performance appraisal and/or Independent Learning Project Moderator’s appraisal. In addition, students may be asked to participate in other assessment activities such as the Small Group Instructional Diagnosis.

Major (44-48 credits)

32 credits of coursework are required, within which 20 must be at the upper division level. This can be done two ways:

A. Interdivisional: Course Requirements

32 credits are required to include one course addressing methodology or theory.

12 credits in each of two different divisions noted below are required (art and sociology, for example).

8 additional credits of coursework from any of the four noted divisions are required.

20 of the 32 credits of coursework must be completed at the upper division (300+) level.

OR

Within a Division: Course Requirements

32 credits are required to include one course addressing methodology or theory.

12 credits in each of two within a division are required (history and English, for example).

Eight additional credits of coursework from any department within the selected division are required.

20 of the 32 credits of coursework must be completed at the upper division (300+) level.

A 12-16 upper division credit student designed educational experience which integrates a topic or issue through several disciplines. A minimum of 4 credits and a maximum of 8 credits must be experiential in nature (i.e. internship or individual learning project). The experiential component must be combined with 8-12 additional credits of course work to satisfy the total Student Designed Experience. A preliminary proposal for your SDE is required by the close of your junior year. Once in progress, a one-page reflection describing the SDE as a bridge between theory and application is due to the Liberal Studies Advisor no later than the semester of graduation.